Color-coded tactile data-entry devices

ABSTRACT

A data-entry device having manually operable input means arranged in zones for operation by corresponding fingers of a user. The device includes means for color coding such that each zone is assigned a color and successive zones display colors ordered according to their relative positions within a spectrum-ordered color pattern. In one embodiment the device includes a keyboard, such as for a computer or typewriter, wherein the keys of the keyboard are color-coded according to a spectrum-ordered color pattern. The invention also provides a method of color coding a data-entry device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to colour coding and more particularlyto colour coding of tactile data-entry devices. The invention isapplicable to computer or typewriter keyboards, cash registers,calculators, remote control mechanisms, telephone keypads or any othertype of data-entry device having manually-operable input means intendedto be actuated by the hand or hands of a user. It will be convenient tohereinafter describe the colour coding application in relation tocomputer keyboards, where the input means includes depressible keys, butit should be understood that the invention is intended for more generalapplication and use.

BACKGROUND

Research by the inventor has established that computers are not usedproperly or to full potential. Computers are widely accepted aseffective means of problem solving, however most users lack confidencein new applications and tend to be proficient only in repeated andfamiliar tasks, indicating functional fixedness—the inability toperceive better ways of performing tasks and realising that objects havefunctions other than familiar ones. In a nutshell computers, includingkeyboards, are not used properly because of inadequate user awarenessand instruction. Very few users are aware of the finger-key zonesnecessary for effective use of keyboards and computers. Without thisknowledge progress is slow and error-prone. Continued misuse causesdifficult-to-reverse and dysfunctional development. For the individualthis means slow-paced skill acquisition which retards proficiency, speedand accuracy, and user confidence.

The layout of keys on a modern computer keyboard is based on a “basic”typewriter keyboard configuration. That configuration has been acceptedas a standard over many decades and defines the positions of keys on thekeyboard. Generally, the “basic” typewriter keyboard has about fiftykeys and does not include numeric, control, option, mode, start-up,cursor and function keys found on the modern “extended” or “101-plus”keyboard. The most common legends applied to the keys for identificationpurposes are the “QWERTY” and “Dvorak” legends, however there are manyoptional legends which may be utilised depending upon a user's specificrequirements (eg. Japanese, Arabic, Swedish). The present invention isuniversally applicable to the “basic” or the “extended” keyboards andthe various legends which apply to key identification.

The most widely-accepted method for efficient data input is the“touch-type” technique. To “touch-type” is to use the appropriate keyingfingers without looking at the keyboard. However, the inventor'sresearch has established that in excess of 99.95% of keyboard users do,and must, look at the modern “extended” or “101-plus” keyboard—visualconsultation has become essential to keyboard users, regardless of anindividual's proficiency level. That is because the modern keyboard hasa far greater number and variety of keys and a larger, denser displayarea. Whilst the “basic” keyboard has almost fifty keys and can effectabout eighty functions, the modern “extended” keyboard has in excess ofone-hundred keys and can effect, potentially, thousands of distinctfunctions.

Traditional methods of teaching the “touch-type” technique limit the useand proficiency of the modem extended keyboard and its potentialsbecause those methods only teach how to “touchtype” within the “basic”keyboard configuration where visual consultation is at a minimum. Withthe development of modern keyboards, and other data-entry devices,visual search has become essential to proficient use. Visualconsultation of both keyboard and display monitor also play a vital rolein the formative stages of learning to type (Cooper, 1983; Barrett &Krueger, 1994). The present invention acknowledges that the keyboard isa stimulus to users and that visual consultation is essential fordeveloping effective usage.

In the “touch-type” technique the user places the fingers in theso-called “home” position in which each finger, from left to right, isplaced on the home keys reading “ASDFJKL;” on a “QWERTY” legend keyboardor “AOEUHTNS” on a “Dvorak” legend keyboard. The thumbs are held overthe space bar. Home keys are often identified through tactile guidesattached to the keys. Each finger operates only those keys within thecolumn defined by the home position, or in the case of the indexfingers, also the adjacent columns containing keys on the home rowreading G for the left hand and H for the right hand (“QWERTY” legend).“Finger-key zones” are thereby established, corresponding to the “home”position on the keyboard. The left and right “halves” of the keyboardshould be used by the respective hands.

The benefits of the “touch-type” technique are that it developsproficiency, speed and accuracy through utilising the most efficientfinger-key associations and the most economic kinesthetic-motorresponses. The alternative “hunt and peck” method of typing producesdifficult-to-reverse keying habits that limit speed and proficiency. Itis therefore crucial to encourage the right motor responses (musclememory) in the user at the earliest possible stage.

Various prior art systems have accordingly been developed in an attemptto teach users to “touch-type” correctly. However, those systems requirethe user to wear finger-guides in the form of upstanding labels worn onthe back of the hands; or rings worn on each finger; or gloves. Fingerguides and accessories indicate the relevant keys to be operated by eachfinger but have the disadvantage that they restrict movement of thetypist's fingers or hands, block visual search and impair tactilefeedback necessary for establishing correct motor skills (Cooper, 1983;Barrett & Krueger, 1994). Those systems are also restricted to basickeyboards and do not address extended keyboards used with computers.

Some of the prior art systems employ coloured decals or discs applied tothe keys of a basic keyboard such that the keyboard is divided into aplurality of finger-key zones as described above. The keys within aparticular zone are given a common colour, while the colour of each zoneis different. Each finger is thereby associated with keys on thekeyboard having a particular colour. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No.3,501,849 to Olsen discloses finger-key zones from left to right havingthe colours: “red, blue, orange, green, yellow, pink, black, purple”.U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,739 to Ladner et al. discloses the colours: “darkpink, yellow, violet, green, orange, blue, grey, light pink”. WO94/01851filed by Troudet discloses the colours: “pink, red, green, yellow andorange, yellow and orange, green, red, pink”.

The benefits of colour-coded keyboards accordingly appear to be knownand accepted but there has been no appreciation or understanding of thesignificance that colour selection and patterning can play in thecognitive processes involved in teaming and developing proper keyingpractices. The present inventor on the other hand has recognized thatcolour selection and colour patterning can play a very significant rolein enhancing the learning process and use habits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilises a spectrum-ordered colour pattern.

Throughout this specification the phrase “spectrum colours” is intendedto denote all hues in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrumwhich may be perceived by a human observer having normal colour vision.That phrase is intended to include all hues within the visible spectrumand is not limited to a number of defined colours or colour categories.The phrases “spectrum-ordered colour pattern” and “spectrum-orderedpattern” denote a pattern produced by spectrum colours when arrangedaccording to their natural order in the electromagnetic spectrum.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a data-entry device havingmanually operable input means arranged in zones for operation bycorresponding fingers of a user, the device including means for colourcoding such that each zone is assigned a colour and successive zonesdisplay colours ordered according to their relative positions within aspectrum-ordered colour pattern.

In one embodiment the data-entry device includes a keyboard and theinput means includes manually operable keys on the keyboard.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a colour-codedtemplate for a tactile data-entry device having manually operable inputmeans arranged in zones for operation by corresponding fingers of auser, the template including means for colour coding the input meanssuch that each zone is assigned a colour and successive zones displaycolours ordered according to their relative positions within aspectrum-ordered colour pattern.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a colour-codedmembrane for overlaying a tactile data-entry device having a pluralityof manually operable input means arranged in zones for operation bycorresponding fingers of a user, the membrane including means for colourcoding the input means such that each zone is assigned a colour andsuccessive zones display colours ordered according to their relativepositions within a spectrum-ordered colour pattern.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method ofcolour coding a data-entry device having manually operable input means,the method including the steps of:

-   -   assigning to each operating finger of a user a colour, each        colour being chosen such that successive fingers are assigned        colours which are ordered according to their relative positions        within a spectrum-ordered colour pattern;    -   arranging the input means in zones; and    -   colour coding the input means such that each zone displays the        colour assigned to its operating finger.

The data-entry device, and method of colour coding a data-entry device,according to the invention utilise means for colour coding which isbased on psychological principles and the inventor's research findings.

The Gestalt “laws of organization” predict and govern perception of theelements that make up contour, colour, structure, and form in theperceptual (visual) field. Those elements are arranged throughpsychological processes into patterns with maximum organization (Koffka,1935). The better the organization of the stimulus then the better itsperception (Koffka, 1935). Perception requires that a stimulus in theperceptual field must contain some measure of heterogeneity (Wertheimer,1923 in Koffka, 1935). Object segregation within the visual field isnecessary for perception; it is not possible to discriminate an objectwithout segregation. A visual field must contain a certain amount ofredundant information, ensuring discrimination and contrast of objectsand their structures (Attneave, 1954). Redundancy reduces uncertaintyand error and contributes to improved organisation. Organisationemphasises the context and significance of the functionality of thestimulus. Greater organisation allows botter perception.

Effective and intelligent responses will always be as good as theprevailing conditions in the perceptual field permit (Koffka, 1935).Gestalt principles determine that a subject's perceptual field issegregated into psychologically-ordered parts that are most stable andsimple or which create a minimum level of psychological andphysiological stress (Forgus, 1966). Perceptual fields tend to beorganised into a limited number of minor units. Grouping into smallerunits encourages a chunking effect (Miller, 1956). Chunking allowsinformation, like letters, syllables and words, to be grouped intofamiliar and manageable units which assist encoding, storage and recall(Lefton, 1994). Discrimination will be impaired if objects and theirbackgrounds have the same colour (Javadnia & Ruddock, 1988).

Psychophysiological factors are important considerations. Varioustheories propose the concept of neurophysiological memory traces. Theinput of information remains in a passive form as a trace. Recall andresponse involve a reactivation of a trace which, in effect, renews thesame perceptual process and initiates responses consistent with thecorresponding original input (Anderson & Bower, 1973). There is atransformation of unordered or poorly-organised memory traces intobetter-organised traces through repetition, indicating that memory andrecall are also aided by good organisation in the perceptual field(Anderson & Bower, 1973). Good organisation in the perceptual fieldstreamlines the neural processes associated with input, storage andretrieval of information (Restak, 1988). Kinesthesia, or motor memory,is the awareness of movement and position arising from repetition ofmotor activities. Finding keys on a keyboard is easier when afinger-colour-key location is familiar. That learned familiarity ofmovement and its repetition assists efficient and consistent motorcoordination. Learning to use the keyboard proficiently can only occurthrough repetition, but repetition may lead to bad habits as well asgood ones. One may easily start to learn wrongly and then acquire badhabits which will retard learning the activity correctly. In such casesrepetition does not lead to optimum use (Koffka, 1935).

The development of skilled typing is characterized by a decreasingdependence on visual feedback accompanied by an increasing dependence onkinesthetic tactile feedback. Kinesthetic tactile feedback is the basisfor making and confirming responses once learning has occurred utilisingsensory stimuli, mainly vision (Barrett & Krueger, 1994; Gordon,Casabona & Soechting, 1994).

The colour-coded keyboard of the invention reveals the finger-key zoneswhich enhance learning performance and develop the correct keyingpractices. The inventor's research indicates that at least ninety-fivepercent of “expert” touch-type-method typists don't use the extendedkeyboard properly. In acquiring the motor skills to key properly it iscrucial to learn them correctly. Better use and, in particular, properhand positioning minimizes the incidence of repetitive stress injurieslike carpel tunnel syndrome, akinesia, and tenosynovitis (Cooper, 1983).

The use of colour is an important consideration for perception. Thephysiological and psychological benefits of colour use are wellappreciated. Colour is as an extremely effective way of organisingstimuli (Wickens & Andre, 1990) and an ideal means of segregating,defining and connecting units of stimuli (Davidoff, 1991). Segmentationthrough colour coding quickens visual search responses (Green &Anderson, 1956; Christ, 1975; Carter, 1982; Bundesen & Pedersen, 1983).Colour also aids the processing and recall of information, and ofstimulus organization (Christ, 1975;. Colour coding also enhances memoryperformance (Siple & Springer, 1983).

Of the prior art colour-coded keyboards described above there appears tohave been no importance placed on the particular colours used. It can beseen from the examples given that the colours were selected arbitrarily,with no emphasis on colour relationship or effective ordering andpatterning.

In contrast, patterning plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of thepresent invention. Organisation through patterning is an efficient wayof receiving, processing and recalling information. The organisation ofa pattern is the basis on which discriminating and efficient responsesmay be made (Murch, 1973). The pattern which presents the best possiblecues will have the best organisation (Koffka, 1935). Patterns havemnemonic advantages because they are more readily organised intoconceptual units (Anderson, 1973). Patterns tend to compel one toperceive in certain ways; subjects tend to endow an object with themaximum regularity, symmetry, simplicity, continuity, inclusiveness andunification towards the best organization (Forgus, 1966). When there areseveral ways a pattern may be organized the simplest arrangement will beperceived most readily (McBurney & Collings, 1977). Good spatialarrangement of patterns facilitates organisation (Davidoff, 1991).Colours are an effective way of creating patterns. Discriminationbetween stimuli is easier if colour categories lie within informationboundaries (Mullen & Kulikowski, 1990). Colouring and patterning whenused together are compatible and do not lead to dysfunctional responsesbecause they are processed separately (Javadnia & Ruddock, 1988). Brown& Monk (1975) and Carter, (1982) found that patterns quicken searchresponse times because participants develop effective search strategies.Perceptual processes are improved when segregation of the units createconjunctions that act as means of separating the units and also asattentional cues for units that receive separate attention and arerequired for specific functions (Treisman, 1982) as in the case of thecolour-coded finger-key zones of the invention.

The colour-coded keyboard of the present invention reveals, first, thatthe basic keyboard and the extended keyboard have organizedconfigurations. The “within-stimulus” organisation is perceived throughthe arrangement of the coloured units and the pattern formed through thecolour transition of those units. In the case of a computer keyboard,that colour transition is emphasised by the sloping columns, a naturalcomplement to ergonomic design standards for keyboard configurations.The keys are segregated into zones by a spectrum-ordered colour pattern.

This spectrum-ordered pattern corresponds to the range of so-called“visible light” within the electromagnetic radiation spectrum (EMS).“Visible light” is “radiation” conceptualised at variant wavelengths ofthe EMS between the ultra-violet and infrared extremes of about 380nanometres and 780 nanometres respectively (Marczenko,1966; Wurtman,1975). Contemporary theories contend that colour is the psychologicaleffect of electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths, suggestingthat objects appear coloured, via psychological processes, when theytransmit radiation in the “visible” range.

The range of visible light may be subdivided into seven parametric bandsof colours (Newton, 1730; Boring, 1942) corresponding to “focal regions”of the spectrum (Mervis, Catlin & Rosch, 1975; Heider, 1972). The focalregions are the purest examples of a colour and the most prominent(salient) parts of the spectrum (Heider, 1971; Neumann & D'Agostino,1981) as opposed to the vague, low-contrasting boundaries between thefocal regions which are either more difficult to distinguish or to name(Heider, 1971; Bornstein, 1976; Mullen & Kulikowski, 1990). The focalregions exhibit colours which may be categorised semantically as thecolours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (Maclvor &LaForest, 1979; Gunstone & Osanz, 1994; Marshall 1991; Walker, 1991),being arranged in wavelength order corresponding to their naturalpositions in the electromagnetic spectrum (Boring, 1942; Ditchburn,1961).

A colour-coded keyboard incorporating this subdivision of spectrumcolours, based on the focal regions, provides maximum contrast andseparation of the stimulus (the keys) whilst maintaining the integrityof the pattern. This pattern of spectrum colours accordingly constitutesa particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. The colourcategories of the preferred embodiment may be conceptualised, usingwavelength specifications for monochromatic light or hue angles on acolour wheel, as follows:

Colour Category Wavelength Range Focal Hue Hue Angle (effect) (approx.nm) (approx. nm) (colour wheel) Red 760-620 650  0° Orange 620-590 610 30° Yellow 590-545 575  60° Green 525-490 505 120° Blue 490-450 470180° Indigo 450-420 440 240° Violet 420-380 405 300°

These colours range around the Focal Hues which are the most salientexample of that colour category. Due to their different molecularcompositions, surface compounds emit various wavelengths ofelectromagnetic radiation. The perception of an “object's” colour isdetermined by the predominant wavelength emissions.

It has been found that stimulus perception can occur at various levelsof scale (Duncan and Humphreys, 1989). In line with those findings thespectrum-ordered colour pattern enhances organization of the units atboth the within-stimulus level and at the “whole-stimulus” level, whereresponses can be based on the perceived properties of the entirestimulus. “Homogeneity coding” occurs when a “target,” in this case thespectrum-ordered colour pattern, as a unit at the whole-stimulus scalelevel, is applied to the stimulus which imparts an uniquely perceivedintegration of the sub-units (Duncan and Humphreys, 1989).

The preferred spectrum-ordered pattern of colours, as a whole, isperceived as an ordered pattern because its coloured sub-units, atcolumnar focal regions, provide information at intervals of a spatialgradient. A spatial gradient is a function of the relationship betweenthe units of a sequence (Koffka, 1935). The strength of thatrelationship is a measure of the sequence's organization and hence afactor determining how readily a pattern may be perceived. An example ofthis is the sequence of integers: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8” which is amore-readily perceivable pattern than: “1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 7, 6, 8”.

Colour pattern discrimination relies on the detectability of gradientsof colour that make up the units of a visual pattern (Fitts, 1966). Eachunit's colour within the preferred colour pattern corresponds to eachcolour category's characteristic range of radiation. Those ranges may berepresented as parameters of frequencies (λ) in Hertz (Wright, 1964),wavelength specifications in nanometres (Giancoli, 1980), hue angles ona colour wheel or colour-hue specifications as determined through theR.G.B., Munsell, Pantone, L*a*b*, C.I.E., CMYK or other colourdetermining system (Judd & Wyszecki, 1975). When the units of thepreferred pattern are assigned rank-order values corresponding to theirnatural positions within the EMS a relationship is determinable. Thecolour coding of the preferred embodiment of the invention uses thefocal region colours in the, “R-O-Y-G-B-I-V” ranked order:

Rank Colour Order λ_(a) (red) 1, λ_(b) (orange) 2, λ_(c) (yellow) 3,λ_(d) (green) 4, λ_(e) (blue) 5, λ_(f) (indigo) 6, λ_(g) (violet) 7 (λ_(x) denoting rank corresponding to that colour's position in thespectrum and the numeral denoting the order of colours of a patternwhich may be made from these colours). Relationship strength isestablished through the statistical measure: “Spearman's rank-ordercorrelation coefficient” (Graziano & Raulin, 1989). The relationshipbetween the colours of the preferred spectrumordered pattern, expressedas a correlation coefficient, is the maximum: p=+1.00. (The reverserank-ordered pattern, “V-I-B-G-Y-O-R” also has the maximum: p=+1.00.) Noother pattern could be perceived as readily because it would have arelationship indicating weaker stimulus organization. For example, thenon-spectrum-ordered pattern, “Y-O-G-V-I-B-R”:

Rank Colour Order λ_(a) (yellow) 3, λ_(b) (orange) 2, λ_(c) (green) 4,λ_(d) (violet) 7, λ_(e) (indigo) 6, λ_(f) (blue) 5, λ_(g) (red) 1 has a significantly weaker correlation, p=+0.07.

A colour coded keyboard made according to the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention includes the following finger-key zone colours:

Home Key Legend Finger QWERTY Dvorak Colour left-hand pinky A A redleft-hand ring finger S O orange left-hand middle finger D E yellowleft-hand index finger F,(G) U,(I) green right-hand index finger (H),J(D),H blue right-hand middle finger K T indigo right-hand ring finger LN violet right-hand pinky ; S pinkThe space bar, operated by the thumbs, may be given a pale neutralcolour such as cream, light grey, or similar.

The colour pink, used for the right-hand pinky finger-key zone, has beenintroduced to meet the need for eight key-zones corresponding to theeight keying fingers and also to identify and further segregate the keysused by the right hand which requires movement from and to the homekeys. Preferably, the pink is a “constant hue” (Burns, Elsner, Pokorny &Smith, 1984) being the same hue as the “red” used for the left-handpinky but increased in lightness (desaturation). That colour schemeproduces a relation between the pinky fingers whereby the terminal huesof the pattern are the same; they lie on the same radial hue-angle of acolour wheel but have unequal lightness. The colour pink also has amnemonic advantage as it is naturally related to the “pinky” finger ofthe right hand.

In a study conducted to assess the effectiveness of a spectrum-orderedcolour-coded computer keyboard the inventor found that the keyboardshowed clear benefits for users in the acquisition of keyboarding skillsand the development of keyboarding proficiency. Forty-eight casual usersof keyboards participated in the study. Three QWERTY-legend keyboardswere used: a standard achromatic keyboard, a randomly colour-codedkeyboard and a spectrum-ordered colour-coded keyboard. The participantswere independently required to type a test paragraph using the standardkeyboard to enable baseline speed and accuracy scores to be obtained.Participants were then divided into two groups: the control group usedthe randomly colour-coded keyboard, whilst the experimental group usedthe spectrunm-ordered colour-coded keyboard. The test paragraph wasagain used to obtain overall speed and accuracy scores on threeconsecutive occasions.

It was found that the group using the spectrum-ordered keyboardconsistently scored higher than the group using the randomlycolour-coded keyboard, and showed consistent improvement over time. Theresults indicated a mean net gain of 5.13 words per minute for thespectrum-ordered keyboard compared to a mean net gain of 2.27 words perminute for the randomly colour-coded keyboard. These results present a195% difference in improvement between the groups over time, therebydemonstrating that the spectrum-ordered keyboard functions as an aid tothe acquisition of keying proficiency.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, also based on the sevenfocal region colours, a colour other than pink may be used for theeighth keying finger. In one embodiment a non-colour such as black,white or a shade of grey may be used. The non-colour may be used inplace of pink for the right-hand pinky finger, or it may be used for theleft hand pinky finger, with the seven focal region colours then beingshifted to the right by one finger.

In another embodiment of the invention, the spectrum colours may bereversed. From left to right the colours associated with the eightkeying fingers may be as follows: pink, violet, indigo, blue, green,yellow, orange and red. Again, the pink may be replaced by black, whiteor a shade of grey, and may be at either end of the pattern. Thisordered pattern of colours may also be used on “left-handed” keyboards,which are a mirror image of conventional keyboards.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a colour coded keyboard maydisplay an ordered pattern of eight successive or non-successivespectrum colours. In one example, colour hues between the preferredfocal region colours may be employed. Such a pattern may not provide themaximum perceived contrast and separation between the finger-key zonesof the keyboard but, nevertheless, the spectrum-ordered pattern enhancesorganization of the keyboard as a stimulus to the user, therebyassisting more efficient input, storage and recall of information.

Colour coding of the keys, or their columns, may be achieved in avariety of ways. In one embodiment the sides of upstanding keys may bepainted or printed with the appropriate colour for each key-zone.Alternatively, the keys may be made of a suitable coloured material suchas coloured plastic. The keys may advantageously be made of atranslucent coloured material and back-lit to emit light of theappropriate colour.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the means for colourcoding may be in the form of a colour-coded membrane for overlaying thekeys of a standard keyboard. Alternatively, the means for colour codingmay be in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid template surrounding thekeys such that finger-key zones are indicated by a backgroundsurrounding colour.

In a further embodiment, the keyboard may be of the membrane typewherein each “key” is an elastomeric diaphragm switch assembly. In sucha keyboard the elastomeric diaphragm may be colour coded.

Preferably all of the keys of an “extended” computer keyboard are colourcoded using the same coding as applied to the “basic” section of thekeyboard. The colours displayed may be chosen to indicate the relevantfingers to be used to operate the additional keys, such as the numericalkeypad, control, mode, option, start-up, cursor arrow and function keys.

Advantageously, finger-key zone indicators may be applied to thekeyboard so as to indicate which finger is to be used for eachfinger-key zone. Such indicators may be in the form of a hand symbolhaving the relevant finger coloured the appropriate colour. Preferablythe indicators are placed at the top of each column comprising afinger-key zone. The indicators may be applied to the surface materialof the keyboard by any suitable process such as embossing, screenprinting, decal or transfer.

The fundamental problem with keyboards having poorly-definedorganization (without colour, motor-, memory- or search-aidingenhancements) is that they are perceived as homologous visual fields.Their low-level organization does not confirm an order or break down thewhole into its integral parts which is necessary for efficientinformation processing. Accordingly, as a stimulus their effectivenessis limited. Their low level of organization overwhelms a user, retardingsearch efficiency and proper motor development. Breaking down the wholeinto its integral parts aids awareness of the purpose and functionalitybehind the keyboard's design configuration. Distribution of thesegregated parts of the keyboard by colour coding facilitates betterawareness of the integrated whole.

Incorporating visual search, motor- and memory-aiding devices by colourcoding effectively introduces meaningful relations between theto-be-remembered information and the responses to be realized. Thequality of response, in this case one's keying skills including speed,accuracy and proficiency, is relative to the quality and strength of theorganisation in the perceptual field—the keyboard—and the processes inlearning and developing its usage. The higher the level of organisation,the greater the streamlining of the neural processes which assists inmore efficient input, storage and recall responses. The high-levelorganisation of the preferred rank-ordered focal region spectrum coloursprovides the strongest-possible cues and yields the best-possibleresponses, adapting the neural mechanisms to process information withmaximum economy and efficiency, thereby leading to greater userconfidence through speed, accuracy and proficiency.

The colour coding application of the invention has unique advantageswhich are directly attributable to the high level of organisationrealized through the use of the spectrum-ordered colour patterning. Thepreferred colour pattern, based on the focal regions of the spectrum,has the following improvements:

-   -   1) It is the most expediently perceived pattern of colours. This        is because the preferred spectrum-ordered pattern of colour        coding is the most organized pattern. This pattern has the        strongest possible relationship because it provides the highest        level of within-stimulus pattern contrast, indicating its        optimal organizational properties.    -   2) The preferred spectrum-ordered pattern corresponds to the        “rainbow” patterm which is instantly recognisable, providing        more information at both the within-stimulus and whole-stimulus        levels than unfamiliar patterns, and thereby increasing        organisation of the keyboard.    -   3) It is the simplest pattern. The preferred spectrum-ordered        pattern is the simplest pattern that can fulfil maximum        organization of the units of the keyboard or input device. It is        the only familiar pattern with rank-ordered colours.

A colour-coded keyboard incorporating the colour coding pattern of theinvention has the following practical advantages:

-   -   It provides an immediate introduction to the order and the        finger-key zones of the keyboard.    -   Novice, casual and expert users become aware of its function        immediately.    -   It acts as an heuristic guide, encouraging users to pursue        correct usage of the keyboard.    -   It introduces the home keys and mapsut their corresponding key        zones.    -   It acts as a constant and permanent reminder of the correct        means of use.    -   Users will automatically learn finger-key associations which are        necessary for learning to “touch-type”. That stops the        establishment of difficult-to-ireverse keying habits.    -   It encourages correct muscle memory.    -   It reduces the incidence of physiological and        psychophysiological injuries by stabilizing the keying hand at        its correct location, thereby isolating finger movement to        within the appropriate key-zone and minimizing hand and arm        movement.    -   No accessories are needed.

The colour coding pattern of the invention is universally suited to allkeyboards and tactile-encoding devices such as on telephones,calculators, cash registries and the like. For example, the push buttonsof a calculator or the numerical keypad of a computer keyboard aretypically arranged in four columns with the first three columns from theleft-hand side containing an array of numerical keys and the right-mostcolumn containing mathematical operands. Such keypads are usuallydesigned for right-handed operation and in the preferred colour codingof the invention would be coloured, from left to right: blue, indigo,violet and pink. However, other colours exhibiting a spectrum-orderedpattern of colours may also be used. For example, four successive focalregion colours may be used, (eg. yellow, green, blue, indigo) or fournon-successive focal region colours may be used (eg. red, yellow, blue,violet). Alternatively, non-focal region spectrum-ordered colours may beused.

The colour coding pattern may also be utilised on keypads having onlythree columns, such as on a typical telephone. In this instance, threesuccessive spectrum colours may be used. Advantageously the coloursblue, indigo and violet are used, corresponding to the colours ofcomputer keyboard keys operated by the first three fingers of the righthand. However, three other successive or non-successive spectrum-orderedcolours may be used. Those colours may or may not be focal regioncolours.

In further embodiments of the invention, five, six or seven finger-keyzones may be colour coded and any sequence of spectrum-ordered coloursmay be employed. The selected colours may or may not be focal regioncolours and need not be equally spaced within the visible spectrum.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the keys of a keypad maybe configured as an array having rows and columns, and being arrangedsuch that each row (or group of rows) forms a key-zone. Each zone is adifferent colour and successive zones display colours according to aspectrum-ordered pattern of colours. From top to bottom, the colours maybe arranged in ascending or descending ranked order. In this embodimentthe keying fingers are again positioned for operation of keys withinrespective zones.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention by referenceto the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment.Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently theparticularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood assuperseding the generality of the preceding description of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a computer keyboard incorporating thepreferred colour coding pattern of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows one form of finger-key-zone indicators which may be appliedto the key-zones of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a data-entry device in the formof a computer keyboard 1 having a standard configuration of keys 2. Thekeyboard 1 includes a basic or alphabetical keyboard 3, numerical keypad4, control keys 5 and function keys 6.

The basic keyboard 3 is similar to a typewriter keyboard and includeskeys 2 arranged in columnar key-zones 11 to 18. Key-zones 11 to 18correspond to the eight keying fingers of a typist using the“touch-type” technique. For each finger, the “home” key 20 within eachzone is indicated in FIG. 1 with a black dot. These dots are providedfor present reference purposes only and are not part of the actualkeyboard legend. The home keys on a “QWERTY” keyboard correspond to thekeys reading “ASDFJKL;”. However, these keys may have different labelsdepending on the purpose and language of the keyboard or input device.

As shown in FIG. 1, key-zones 11 to 18 are colour coded using thespectrum-ordered colours. The keying finger corresponding to eachcoloured key-zone is as follows:

Key Zone Finger Colour 11 left-hand pinky red 12 left-hand ring fingerorange 13 left-hand middle finger yellow 14 left-hand index finger green15 right-hand index finger blue 16 right-hand middle finger indigo 17right-hand ring finger violet 18 right-hand pinky pink

Each keying finger is thus associated with a particular colour and withkeys 2 in a particular key-zone of the alphabetical keyboard 3 havingthat colour. The space bar 19, operated by either thumb, is given aneutral colour such as black, white, cream, grey, or similar.

The numerical keypad 4 includes key-zones 21 to 24 arranged generally infour columns for operation by four keying fingers of the right hand of auser. The key-zones are colour-coded as follows:

Key Zone Finger Colour 21 right-hand index finger blue 22 right-handmiddle finger indigo 23 right-hand ring finger violet 24 right-handpinky pink

It will be noted that this colour coding is the same as that used forthe right-hand keying fingers on the alphabetical keyboard 3.

The control keys are similarly arranged in key-zones 31 to 33 foroperation by three keying fingers as follows:

Key Zone Finger Colour 31 right-hand index finger blue 32 right-handmiddle finger indigo 33 right-hand ring finger violet

The row of function keys 6 above the alphabetical keyboard 3 is colourcoded as shown in FIG. 1 to indicate to the user that the left-mostgroup of four keys is to be operated by the left hand and the middle andright-most groups of four keys are to be operated by the right hand. Itwill be appreciated however that different colours may be used toinstruct the user to use different fingers.

For computer and typewriter keyboards the preferred spectrum-orderedpattern of coloured zones, with the additional mnemonic pink for the“pinky” finger's zone, conforms to the essential need to segregate eightfinger-key zones to correspond with the eight keying fingers(space-thumb bar excluded).

The present invention thus allows a computer or keyboard manufacturer orsoftware producer to direct a user to use particular fingers in theoperation of the system or software by providing a colour-coded keyboardor colour-coded overlay or template for a standard keyboard.

The finger-colour association is preferably the same across the wholekeyboard. The “touch-type” technique encourages the user to very quicklylearn the appropriate fingers to be used for all keys of an extendedcomputer keyboard, not just the basic keyboard. Users quickly associatethe colours with respective fingers. This means that the finger guidesand accessories of the prior art are unnecessary.

If however it is considered appropriate, the present invention envisagesthat finger-key-zone indicators may be displayed on the keyboard at thetop of each column or group of columns comprising each key-zone. FIG. 2shows a finger-key-zone indicator 50 for the left hand and afinger-key-zone indicator 51 for the right hand. In use, the appropriatefinger of each indicator is coloured, so as to show the relevant fingerto be used in each key-zone. For example, left-hand indicator 50 isapplied to the keyboard above the red keys in key-zone 11 and has thepinky finger coloured red. The same indicator is used above key-zone 12but has the ring finger coloured in orange. All other key-zones of thekeyboard may be similarly marked.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations andmodifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be producedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,it is to be understood that the invention may be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

The annexed references are incorporated herein by cross reference.

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1. A tactile data-entry device comprising: manually operable input meansarranged in a plurality of zones for operation by corresponding fingersof a user, means for color coding at least a portion of the plurality ofzones of said input means, to provide a visual contrast and separationbetween each of the portion of the plurality of said zones, wherein saidcolor coding is arranged such that each of the portion of the pluralityof zones is assigned a color that is distinguishable from an adjacentother of the portion of the plurality of zones, and wherein successiveones of the portion of the plurality of zones display colors that form aspectrum-ordered color pattern in which said colors are arranged inorder of successively increasing wavelengths such that each of the zonesin the portion of plurality of zones bordered by at least two adjacentzones in the portion of plurality of zones has an associated colorhaving a wavelength higher than one adjacent zone and lower than anotheradjacent zone.
 2. The tactile data-entry device of claim 1, wherein theportion of the plurality of zones comprises seven successively adjacentzones, and the colors of the seven successively adjacent zones arerespectively red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. 3.The tactile data-entry device of claim 2, wherein the colors correspondsubstantially to perceived hues associated with monochromatic lighthaving wavelengths ranges in nanometres ordered as follows: red 760-720orange 620-590 yellow 590-545 green 525-490 blue 490-450 indigo 450-420violet 420-380.


4. The tactile data-entry device of claim 3, wherein the colorscorrespond substantially to perceived hues associated with monochromaticlight having wavelengths in nanometres ordered as follows: red 750orange 610 yellow 575 green 505 blue 470 indigo 440 violet
 405.


5. The tactile data-entry device of claim 2, wherein the colorscorrespond substantially to hues angles on a color wheel, ordered asfollows: red 0° orange 30° yellow 60° green 120° blue 180° indigo 240°violet 300°.


6. The tactile data-entry device of claim 2, wherein said input meanscomprises a keyboard, and said means for color coding includes surfacecoloring applied to the keyboard such that each operating finger isassigned a different color on the keyboard as follows: left-hand pinkyred left-hand ring finger orange left hand middle finger yellow lefthand index finger green right hand index finger blue right hand middlefinger indigo right hand ring finger violet right hand pinky pink.


7. The tactile data-entry device of claim 1 wherein said means for colorcoding include a color-coded membrane for overlaying the input means. 8.The tactile data-entry device of claim 1 wherein said means for colorcoding include a color-coded template associated with the input means.9. The tactile data-entry device of claim 1 wherein the input meansinclude a plurality of depressible keys.
 10. The tactile data-entrydevice of claim 1 wherein the input means include a plurality ofelastomeric diaphragm switch assemblies.
 11. The tactile data-entrydevice of claim 1 wherein the input means is arranged as an arrayincluding rows and columns, and each column or predetermined group ofcolumns forms one of said plurality of zones.
 12. The tactile data-entrydevice of claim 1 wherein the device includes a computer keyboard andthe input means include a plurality of manually operable keys on thecomputer keyboard.
 13. The data-entry device of claim 12 wherein thecomputer keyboard includes an alphabetical keyboard having eightsuccessive zones associated with eight keying fingers of the user andwherein said zones display, from left to right or right to left, thefollowing ordered colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,violet and pink.
 14. The tactile data-entry device of claim 1, whereinthe computer keyboard includes an alphabetical keyboard and theplurality of zones comprises eight successive adjacent zones associatedwith eight keying fingers of the user and where said eight successiveadjacent zones display from left to right or right to left, thefollowing ordered colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,violet and pink.
 15. The tactile data-entry device of claim 12 whereinthe computer keyboard includes a numerical keypad having four successivezones associated with four keying fingers of the user, and wherein thefour zones display four colors selected from and ordered according tothe following: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet andpink.
 16. The tactile data-entry device of claim 14 wherein the selectedcolors are: blue, indigo, violet and pink.
 17. The tactile data-entrydevice of claim 12 wherein the computer keyboard includes respectivegroups of function keys, cursor positioning keys and control keys, eachgroup having a plurality of successive zones associated withcorresponding keying fingers of the user, and wherein the zones withineach group display colors selected from and ordered according to thefollowing: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet and pink.18. The tactile data-entry device of claim 1 wherein the device includesa numerical keypad and the input means includes manually operable keyson the keypad.
 19. The tactile data-entry device of claim 17 wherein thekeypad includes three successive zones associated with three keyingfingers of the user, and wherein the three zones display three colorsselected from and ordered according to the following: red, orange,yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet and pink.
 20. The tactile data-entrydevice of claim 18 wherein the selected colors are: blue, indigo andviolet.
 21. The tactile data-entry device of claim 18 wherein theselected colors are: orange, yellow and green.
 22. The tactiledata-entry device of claim 1 further including indicators associatedwith each zone for designating to the user which finger is to be usedfor each zone.
 23. The tactile data-entry device of claim 21 wherein theindicators are in the form of hand symbols having the relevant fingerassociated with each zone being the same color as the color assigned tothat zone.
 24. A color-coded template for a tactile data-entry devicehaving a plurality of manually operable input means arranged in aplurality of zones for operation by corresponding fingers of a user, thetemplate comprising: means for color coding at least a portion of theplurality of zones of said input means, to provide a visual contrast andseparation between each of the portion of the plurality of said zones,wherein said color coding is arranged such that each of the portion ofthe plurality of zones is assigned a color that is distinguishable froman adjacent other of the portion of the plurality of zones, and whereinsuccessive ones of the portion of the plurality of zones display colorsthat form a spectrum-ordered color pattern in which said colors arearranged in order of successively increasing wavelengths such that eachof the zones in the portion of plurality of zones bordered by at leasttwo adjacent zones in the portion of plurality of zones has anassociated color having a wavelength higher than one adjacent zone andlower than another adjacent zone.
 25. The color-coded template of claim23 wherein the data-entry device includes a computer keyboard havingdepressible keys and the template is adapted to surround individual orgroups of the depressible keys.
 26. A color-coded membrane foroverlaying a tactile data-entry device having a plurality of manuallyoperable input means arranged in a plurality of zones for operation bycorresponding fingers of a user, the membrane comprising: means forcolor coding at least a portion of the plurality of zones of said inputmeans, to provide a visual contrast and separation between each of theportion of the plurality of said zones, wherein said color coding isarranged such that each of the portion of the plurality of zones isassigned a color that is distinguishable from an adjacent other of theportion of the plurality of zones, and wherein successive ones of theportion of the plurality of zones display colors that form aspectrum-ordered color pattern in which said colors are arranged inorder of successively increasing wavelengths such that each of the zonesin the portion of plurality of zones bordered by at least two adjacentzones in the portion of plurality of zones has an associated colorhaving a wavelength higher than one adjacent zone and lower than anotheradjacent zone.
 27. A method of color coding a tactile data-entry devicehaving a plurality of manually operable input means, the methodcomprising the steps of: arranging the input means in a plurality ofzones for operation by corresponding fingers of a user; color coding atleast a portion of the plurality of zones of the input means, to providea visual contrast and separation between each of the portion of theplurality of the zones, wherein the color coding is arranged such thateach of the portion of the plurality of zones is assigned a color thatis distinguishable from an adjacent other of the portion of theplurality of zones, and wherein successive ones of the portion of theplurality of zones display colors that form a spectrum-ordered colorpattern in which the colors are arranged in order of successivelyincreasing wavelengths such that each of the zones in the portion ofplurality of zones bordered by at least two adjacent zones in theportion of plurality of zones has an associated color having awavelength higher than one adjacent zone and lower than another adjacentzone; and assigning to each operating finger of the user the color ofthe corresponding zone such that successive fingers are assigned colorswhich are ordered according to their relative positions within thespectrum-ordered color pattern.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein saiddevice includes a computer keyboard and said input means includesmanually operable keys on said keyboard.
 29. The method of claim 26,wherein the color assigned to each operating finger is as follows:left-hand pinky red left-hand ring finger orange left-hand middle fingeryellow left-hand index finger green right-hand index finger blueright-hand middle finger indigo right-hand ring finger violet right-handpinky pink.


30. The method of claim 26, wherein the color associated to eachoperating finger is as follows: left-hand pinky pink left-hand ringfinger violet left-hand middle finger indigo left-hand index finger blueright-hand index finger green right-hand middle finger yellow right-handring finger orange right-hand pink red.